New Delhi: British motorsports brand, Caterham Cars has launched Caterham Cars India just before this weekend's inaugural Indian Grand Prix. The Caterham brand is being introduced to India with backing from brothers Gaurav and Mohit Burman (promoters of FMCG company Dabur), who will chair the Indian operation.

Caterham Cars India will set up an assembly unit at Greater Noida. Operations will be led by British sportscar racer, Matt Cummings who is an experienced automotive and motorsport operator in the sector. "One of the most exciting phases of our operation will be a fully Indian-assembled Seven, making Caterham the only road, race and track car assembled in India," said Cummings.

"I am looking forward to introducing the exhilarating driving experience of a Seven, both on the road and on the circuit, to the Indian enthusiast," he added. "An initial investment of $ 5-10 million has been earmarked. This will cover setting up of an assembly plant and also carrying out different brand awareness campaigns here."

"We have been working for some time on establishing Caterham in India and we're arriving in yet another new market for our brand at exactly the right time – just as the brand new Indian GP signals the arrival of Indian motorsport on the world stage," said Caterham Cars chief executive, Ansar Ali.

"The potential of the Indian market for the Caterham brand is enormous so we are delighted to have knowledgeable and influential partners by our side for the journey ahead."

Caterham Cars India will be focused on establishing the brand in anticipation of new products currently in development by Caterham Technology and Innovation (CTI), the engineering division recently created following the acquisition of Caterham Cars by Tony Fernandes.

CTI will be responsible for the development of a completely new line of accessible and affordable sportscars inspired by the lightweight, minimalist philosophy of the Seven and drawing on the advanced technologies and materials from the Group's Team Lotus Formula One operations.

With this in mind, Caterham Cars India has also already ordered a demonstrator version of the Company's new-for-2011 SP/300.R sports prototype racing car, with a view to expanding the product offering further to the Indian market.

The announcement of Caterham Cars India follows the launch of the brand in China in July and is the second new market for the Company since its change of ownership back in April. Team Lotus reserve driver, Karun Chandhok, is one of India's premier motorsport exponents.

India will be the second location after the US, where Caterham cars will be assembled outside of the UK.

Caterham Cars, is 100 per cent owned by Tony Fernandes, the promoter of Lotus F1 team and airlines Air Asia. The Burman family spearhead the Dabur Group, a major Indian consumer healthcare and food products company and the brothers, both of whom have keen sporting interests, relish the plans for racing and trackday activities that the Caterham India team will introduce and realise.